Metallic packing for stuffing boxes



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. G. HUGHES.

METALLIC PACKING FOR STUPPING BOXES.

(No Model.)

Patented July 26-, 1887.

\Mtqesses u nen Washington, D c.

' 3 SheetsSheet 2.- J. G. HUGHES.- METALLIC PACKING FOR $TUFFING BOXES.

(No Model.)

No. 367,207. Patented July 26, 1887.

F'IGJS.

Wxtq EIE-EEE (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 3.

vJ. G. HUGHES.

METALLIC PACKING FOR STUPFING BOXES.

No. 367,207. r Patented July 26, 1887.

- HUGHES, a subject of the Queen of Great Britheld tight, and trust being placed entirely in UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. Hoenns, or BOOTLE, COUNTY or LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

METALLlC PACKING FOR STUFFlNG-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,207, dated July 26, 1887.

Applieationfiled March 31, 1886. Serial No. 197,323. (No model.) Patrnted in England June 12, 1884,1To. 8,870.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GRIFFITH ain, residing at Bootle, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Packing for Stuffing-Boxes, (for which I have received Letters Patent in England, dated12th day of June, 1884, No. 8,870,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the application of the well-known metallic piston-packing to packings for stuffing-boxes and the like.

. It consists in forming the filling of the stuff. ing-box of a series of metallic or other rings with grooves turned out of each at theirjunctions, and in placing segmental or other spring-packing in these grooves.

The object I have in view of forming the filling of a series of rings solidly fitting against each other, but with grooves turned out for spring-packing, is to form a solid abutment for the screw-pressure of the gland-screws to bear against and prevent that pressure from wedging the spring-packings tight so that they cannot give or float in their grooves. It is only by this freedom to fioat in their grooves that they become of service, as, if wedged tight, the springs become useless.

Now, I am well aware that it has been proposed before the date of my specification to use metallic packing for piston-rods but all attempts to perform this have failed, I believe, usually, from the packing having been the good fit and numerous breaks of joints. Insuch case no allowance is made for wear or imperfection, and the packing soon leaks badly. In some cases a form of packing has been used that requires a new stuffing-box made" larger than those generally for ordinary packing. This isnot necessary with mine, as it can be fitted into any ordinary stuffing-box.

Now, my invention consists, essentially, in a combination of three parts: First, a solid frame-work for the packing that cannot be compressed; second, split packing-rings that cannot be distorted placed against the pistonrod, and even, if desirable, against the walls of the stufling-box also, but always freely floating in annular grooves or spaces in or between the "rings of the solid frame-work;

third, springs or theircquivalents pressing the packing-rings against thepiston-rod. Sometimes, however, I combine the action of the second and third in one article by using packing rings having elastic nature,and being thus springs themselves, as when Ramsbottom rings are used. I also sometimes, indeed, usually, add a turn or two of Tucks or other packing in the cap between the solid framework of the packing and the gland.

In order that my invention may be better understood, 1 have appended the accompanying drawings, Figure l diagram showing ap plication of Buckleys rings, Priors rings, and outside Buckley ring, simply by way of illustration, as I should not combine these three in one stuffing-box in practice, Fig. 2

showing application of Ramsbottom rings;

Figs. 3 and 4, two views showing application of Cameron springs; Fig. 5, Buckleys rings applied to difierent form of structure; Fig. 6, other form of spring; Figs. 7 and 8, details showingjoint of springs shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, A A A are pieces of the solid packing, not as actually used, but as illustrating different ways of buildingit up. It can either bein a single length with grooves abored out and longitudinally cut into two or three pieces, as at A, or a series of separate rings at A A or with pairs of rings united at A A. In any case care must be taken that the casing is made steam-tight on the bottom of thestuffing-box and held tightly in place by the pressure produced by screwing up the gland, leaving the spaces'for packing-rings perfectly true and free for the rings to float in them. i

B B are the packing-rings, preferably in two halves, as shown. They can, however, be of almost any form of sumcient stiffness, and, of course, with annular contour bearing against the piston-rod. I, however, prefer them shaped as shown. They can be of any ordinary packing ring material. The object of having the packing-rings split and the springs of the form set forth in Fig. 1 pressing against sloping flanges of the rings is to give two directions of pressure, one radially against the piston-rod or stuffingbox, as the case may be, the other longitudinally pressing G G are the springs. They can be in any convenient form usual for 1)iStOl1S1')llllgS, such as Mather and Platts spiral, giving both vertical and lateral pressure, or the four varieties shown, namely: Buckleys, in Figs. 1 and 5; Priors, the one to thelefthand in Fig. 1, shown modified with separable angled rings at the back of the packing-rings, which may be used with or without provision for lateral pressure; Ramsbottoms, shown in Fig. 2. and Camerons, shown in Figs. 3 and 4,01 other variety, such as shown in Fig. 6. The springs shown in Fig. 6 are connected together by pieces I, which fit on the top of the packing-rings B. These are provided at each end with a dovetailed catch, a, into which the T-ends of the screws J lit. The pieces I are chased or cut with a screw to fit into the coil of the spring, thus forming a connection for the two ends. Should the springs stretch, apiece may be cut from one end and the screws inserted afresh. The pieces I, which connect together the screw J, form a cover for thejoint in the ring B when open and prevent the passage of steam. I also can use a series of separate blade, spiral, or other springs.

The Ramsbottom rings are used for both packing and springs inone, no other packing being used with them. I prefer that in which both radial and vertical pressure is obtained. Any form of spring or ring may be used that would be held nicely adjusted against pistonrod or ram, &c., and leaving the packing free to move laterally in the space provided for it in the casin A series ofindependent springs may be employed, as frequently used in pistons.

If in any case it may be thoughtdesirable, provision may be made to introduce packing, metallic or otherwise, at back of easing, as shown at H, Fig. 1, to prevent the possibility of leakage at back, say when the bottom of the stuffing-box is defective, or if from any other cause a leakage is likely to occur at the back.

This packing may be made to partially fill 5 the stuliing-box, leaving room for two or more turns ofwhatis known as Tuckslacking,or any other packing that may be substituted, the glands being screwed up sufficiently tight to keep the metallic packing firmly in place and rendering the whole steam-tight.

I wish it to be understood that I make no claim for metallic packing, broadly, as I am aware that such has been proposed before for stuffing-boxes, &c.

I claim as my invcntion- 1. Apacking forstuffing-boxes, composed of a solid incompressibleframework, A, having packing-ring grooves therein, packing-rings B, floating loosely in said grooves, and springs O, pressing those packing rings inward radially, substantially as described.

2. In a stuffing-box packing, the combina tion ofan incompressible metallic frame-work, A, grooves in the same on both exterior and interior surfaces, and springpacking floatiug loosely in said grooves and pressed inward and outward against rod and stuffing JOHN G. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

WM. P. THOMPSON, J. ANDREW OBRIEN. 

